Surgical Outcomes among Focused versus Diversified Cataract Surgeons.

Purpose: Narrowly focused surgical practice has become increasingly common in ophthalmology and may have an effect on surgical outcomes. Previous research evaluating the influence of surgical focus on cataract surgical outcomes has been lacking. This study aimed to evaluate whether surgeons' exclusive surgical focus on cataract surgery influences the risk of cataract surgical adverse events.

Exclusive cataract surgical focus among ophthalmologists: a population-based analysis.

Objective: An important potential unintended consequence of the growth of surgical subspecialization is the narrowing of surgical practice among comprehensive ophthalmologists. We investigated trends in the narrowing of surgical practice and the exclusive provision of cataract surgery.

Design: Population-based, retrospective study.

Cataract Surgery Quality and Capacity.

Cataract surgery is the most common operation performed in most developed countries, including Canada. Nuanced, evidence-driven policies are needed to ensure appropriate access to this sight-saving operation while maintaining the highest standards in quality of care. The Vision Health Services Research Program at Queen's University, in partnership with members of the Ontario Provincial Vision Task Force, has developed evidence to inform policies aimed at optimizing both access and quality across the eye care spectrum.

Neural network and logistic regression diagnostic prediction models for giant cell arteritis: development and validation.

Purpose: To develop and validate neural network (NN) vs logistic regression (LR) diagnostic prediction models in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA). Design: Multicenter retrospective chart review.

Methods: An audit of consecutive patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy (TABx) for suspected GCA was conducted at 14 international medical centers.

Evolution in the Risk of Cataract Surgical Complications among Patients Exposed to Tamsulosin: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: Tamsulosin is associated with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS), an important risk factor for complications during cataract surgery. Significant efforts have been made to increase awareness of the risks associated with tamsulosin, and educational initiatives have fostered the uptake of technical adjustments to decrease adverse event rates among tamsulosin-exposed patients. However, the effectiveness of these efforts at the population level has not been studied.

Association of Cataract Surgical Outcomes With Late Surgeon Career Stages: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Importance: Evidence suggests that the quality of some aspects of care provided by physicians may decrease during their late career stage. However, to our knowledge, data regarding the association of advancing surgeon career phase with cataract surgical outcomes have been lacking.

Objective: To investigate whether an increase in cataract surgical adverse events occurs during later surgeon career stages.

Safety and Tolerability of Acetazolamide in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial.

Objective: To examine the tolerability and adverse events reported in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT).

Methods: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Trial participants (n = 165) with mild visual loss concurrently receiving low-sodium weight-reduction diet plus the maximally tolerated dosage of acetazolamide (up to 4 g/d) or placebo for 6 months.

A method of evaluating helmet rotational acceleration protection using the Kingston Impact Simulator (KIS Unit).

Objective: Helmet use is the primary form of head protection against traumatic brain injury. Although helmet designs have proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of skull fracture and major traumatic brain injury, there is little evidence that helmets protect against concussion. Linear and rotational accelerations are important mechanisms underlying concussion, yet current testing protocols do not account for rotational acceleration.

Peripapillary choroidal neovascular membrane in a teenage boy: presenting feature of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and resolution with intravitreal bevacizumab.

Peripapillary choroidal neovascular membrane (ppCNVM) is an infrequent finding in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). In the pediatric subgroup there is only a single previously reported case. We describe the use of intravitreal bevacizumab for ppCNVM in a teenage boy with IIH.

The effect of neutral density filters on testing in patients with strabismic amblyopia.

Objective: To confirm if using a neutral density filter (NDF) affects eyes with strabismic amblyopia differently compared to fellow non-amblyopic eyes, and to determine if a similar effect could be observed when using a NDF during peripheral visual field testing.

Design: Prospective controlled case series.

Participants: 19 subjects with strabismic amblyopia with visual acuities between 20/400 and 20/40 in their affected eyes were recruited to the study.

Eye exercises for treatment of idiopathic cranial nerve VII paresis: pilot study.

Background: To determine if fine-motor eye exercises can be used for treatment of unilateral, idiopathic cranial nerve VII paresis to improve rate of recovery.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, eligible patients were randomized to perform fine-motor eye exercises (n=18) or to do no exercise (n=9) for a period of four weeks. Orbicularis oculi muscle strength was measured in paretic and unaffected eyes at baseline, two weeks and four weeks using an Orbicularis Oculi Pressure Sensor.

Optimization of visual evoked potential (VEP) recording systems.

Objective: To explore the influence of environmental conditions on pattern visual evoked potential (VEP) recordings.

Methods: Fourteen subjects with no known ocular pathology were recruited for the study. In an attempt to optimize the recording conditions, VEP recordings were performed in both the seated and recumbent positions.

Loss of Central Vision and Audiovisual Speech Perception.

Communication impairments pose a major threat to an individual's quality of life. However, the impact of visual impairments on communication is not well understood, despite the important role that vision plays in the perception of speech. Here we present 2 experiments examining the impact of discrete central scotomas on speech perception.

Effect of prophylactic nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on cystoid macular edema assessed using optical coherence tomography quantification of total macular volume after cataract surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic administration of the topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% on acute (within 4 weeks of surgery) cystoid macular edema (CME) and total macular volume (TMV) in patients having phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's University, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.